Houses



R. l. FELVER HOUSE Dec 6, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 5. 195a H15 ATTORNEY R. l. FELVER Dec. 6, 1960 HOUSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 5, 1956 m wm INVENTOR. Richard I Fell/er w A W HIS ATTOHVE'Y Dec. 6, 1960 R. l. FELVER 2,963,121

aousms Filed April. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR. F5 Ric'llardllklver By M W HIS ATTORNE'! R. l. FELVER HOUSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 5. 1956 Fig? 11.

INVENTOR. Richard I. Fell/er BY 4/ L W HIS A TTORNET United States Patent HOUSES Richard I. Felver, OHara Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 5, 1956, Ser. No. 576,384

2 Claims. (Cl. 189-2) My invention relates to houses, and particularly to preassembled portable structures for housing electrical equipment or the like.

a In railway signaling systems, a considerable portion of the electrical equipment, such as relays, transformers, batteries and the like, is housed in weathertight enclosures or instrument houses as they aretermed, erected along the right-of-way of the railroad. The instrument houses of the past have taken many forms and have been constructed of. many difle rent materials ranging from small 'wooden structures and c'oncretehoiises to houses made 'of:v sheet metal.

. e wooden instrument houses are a fire hazard and require frequent painting and repairs to prevent deterifloor areas changing with almo'st each location. The sheet metalinstrument house of former design is readily installed at the desired locations on prepa'red foundatioris, but in hoisting arid swinging such houses from the railroad cars, spreader bars are required to prevent the collapse of the side panels or rooffby the cable sling. I

It is therefore an object of my present invention to deposed, rectangular-l ly shaped framework constructed of "steel beams and welded together.

Another object of my invention is to provide in a pressseabiea house, roof and floor frames or jplatfonns are secured to the rectangularly shaped lo'ad supporting framework, the roof and floor panels being secured to their respective frames, whilejthe side panels of the house are secured 'to the roof and floor frames.

A further object of my invention is to provide a'preassembled, portable house in which the load supporting framework ofthe house includes eXteriorly-disposed lifting bars whereby the house may be lifted and set into its fdesirel'locationby a cable sling or the like.

' Still another object of any-invention "is to provide a .preassernbled, poitable house .o'f modular construction to peririit the assembly of houses or various sizes in which the'fsli le.p a'n'els of the houses a'r'e all of the same size; the assembly of the house permitting extension, contraction "at alteration of the shelf and space arrangements i the house.

carrying out my invention, I construct arecta'ngusliaped, load supporting framework from two horiiio'nt'al'steel beams hereinafter referred to as the roof jis r'oviae afpre'a'ss'emb led, portablejhouse which the roof, 7 [side panel and floor loads are supported by a vertically or pilasters. The roof beam and pilasters are substantially U-shaped in cross sections while the floor beam is an I-beam. The roof panels or sheathing is supported on a roof frame comprising two channel beam members substantially U-shaped and having their ends abutting and Welded to the roof beam to form a rectangular frame. The roof frame also comprises a plurality of trusses, the ends of which abut and are welded to the roof beam and the side walls of the frame. The floor frame of the house comprises a channel beam member substantially rectangular in form, the floor beam and the floor frame being welded together to form a unitary support. A web member is welded across the corners of the floor frame for securing the house to its foundation.

The roof beam is somewhat longer than the floor beam and is of sturdy construction. As will hereinafter appear, the roof beam extends somewhat beyond the end panels 'of the house so that with the house completely assembled, the ends of the roof beam and the pilasters are exposed. Lifting bears are welded across the open ends of the roof beam whereby the preassembled house may be lifted by a cable sling or the hke.

The side panels of the house are of sheet metal formed with flanges along their sides, the panels being preferably X-creased to increase their rigidity and reduce the oil-can effect upon expansion and contraction of the panels. The side panels are welded to the underside of the roof frame and to the sides of the floor frame. The ends of the house are provided with suitable panels welded to the roof and floor frames, the panels in the front end of the house being provided with one or more doors while the panels for the rear are preferably formed with ventilating doors or shutters.

The floor of my novel house comprises a plurality of flanged panels, the flange along one side of the panel being formed with a short leg. The floor panels are welded to the floor frame and floor beam by the short legs of the panel flanges, the flanges of the adjacent floor panels resting on the flange legs. A bead weld is then made between the edges of the floor panels. Secured to the underside of the roof frame and to the floor panels adjacent the interior sides of the end and side panels are notched strips forming a part of a shelf supporting means. Upright shelf supporting brackets of the buttonhole type are secured to the notched strips by bolts and nuts, the distance between the brackets being readily lengthened or shortened according to the desired requirements. Panels of insulating material may, if desired, be secured to the side and end panels behind the shelf supporting means.

Other objects and characteristic features of my invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

I shall describe one form of a preassembled house embodying my invention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a house embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the house illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an isometric view of the load supporting members of the house, a portion of the roof being illustrated.

Fig. 4 is an isometric fragmentary view illustrating the construction of the floor frame.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the roof beam and roof frame illustrating the roof panel installation.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the roof beam and frame taken along'the line Vl--VI of Fig. 7.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the roof beam and fi'ame of the house.

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a corner of the roof.

Fig. 9 is an elevational view of a portion of-the inside wall of the house.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along the line X--X of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a top elevational view of a corner of the floor construction of the house.

Fig. 12 is a sectional View along the line XIIXII of Fig. l 1, while Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the connection of the roof panels.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference .numeral 1 designates a sheet metal house embodying my invention, the house comprising a plurality of side panels 2 preferably X-creased to strengthen the panels, front door panels 3 having access doors 4 incorporated therein,

rear shutter panels having ventilating shutters 6 forming acter 10 in Fig. 3. The framework 10 comprises a rectangular frame 11 consisting of a roof beam 12, a floor beam 13 and two end pilasters 14. The roof beam 12 is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, the arms 12a of the beam being formed with oppositely extending flanges 12b (Fig. 6). A portion of the web at the ends of the roof beam is cut away to form extensions 12c for the arms 12a (Fig. 3 and 7), the extensions 12c making the roof beam slightly longer than the floor beam 13. Welded between the roof beam extensions 120 are two spaced plates 15, the lower ends of the plates extending slightly below the bottom of the beam extensions 12c. Horizontally disposed between each pair of plates and welded thereto is a rod or lifting bar 16.

The end pilasters 14 are also substantially U-shaped in cross section, the upper end of the pilaster arms 14a being welded to the dependent ends of the plates 15 forming a part of the roof beam 12.

The floor beam 13 is I-shaped in cross section (Fig. 4) and forms a part of a floor frame 17 substantially rec- .tangular in form and made from one or more channel members 18, the arms 18a of the channel members extending inwardly so that the floor frame presents a flat exterior surface for purposes hereinafter appearing. The web 13a of the floor beam forms a tongue 13b at each end of the beam, the tongues being inserted between the arms 18a of the channel members and welded thereto. Welded to the underside of the channel beams 18 of the floor frame at the rounded corners are mounting plates 24 formed with an opening 24a. Additional mounting plates 24b may also be secured to the floor frame, the mounting plates 24 and 2412 being used for bolting the house to piers or foundations. A sleeve 25 is welded to each of the mounting plates 24, the upper end of the ,sleeves abutting the floor panels, as will hereinafter appear. The floor frame 17 is welded to the rear lower faces of the end pilasters 14, the floor beam 13 and the roof beam 12 being in the same vertical plane.

The roof beam 12 forms a part of a substantially rectangularly shaped roof frame 19. The roof frame 19 comprises channel beams 20 forming substantially U-shaped members having their ends abutting and welded to the roof beain adjacent its ends. The arms 20a of the channel beam 20 extend outwardly from the roof frame,

Butt welded to the inner surfaces of the channel beams 20 and to the arms 12a of the roof beam and resting on the flanges 12b thereof, are end truss members 21 and intermediate truss members 22, the flanges of the trusses abutting the roof beam being cut away to accommodate the flanges 12b of the beam (Fig. 6). The end truss members are substantially U-shaped in cross section, while the intermediate truss members 22, formed by welding two U-shaped members together, are H-shaped in cross section. To secure the truss members rigidly to the roof beam, a plurality of extended flanges 23 (Figs. 3 and 6) are welded to the undersides of the roof beam, while extended flanges 23 a are welded to the top of the beam, the flanges 23a being slotted as at 23b to accommodate the web of the roof trusses. The end trusses are supported by similar flanges 230.

It should be noted that the center lines of the intermediate roof trusses are spaced apart a distance equal to the width of the side and roof panels to be hereinafter described. Thus in the manufacture of houses of various sizes, the number of the side panels 2 may be readily varied in accordance with the desired length, the roof and floor beams and their associated frames being lengthened or shortened accordingly.

The roof panels 8 comprise flat sheet metal panels, the sides and one end of which are formed with an upturned flange 8a substantially perpendicular to the plane of the panel, a lip 8b being formed on the flange which is angularly disposed thereto (Fig. 13). The remaining end of each roof panel is provided with an underturned flange 8c (Fig. 5 which is hooked over the upper arm 20a of the roof frame channel beam 20 when the roof panels are installed. The crease or groove formed by the flange 8c is preferably filled with a sealing compound, such as putty, (not shown) before the flanges are hooked over the arm of the roof frame. With the flanges 8c of the lower ends of the roof panels hooked over the channel beam arm and the side flanges 8a of the panels abutting, the lips 8b on the flanges form a V-shaped notch. The panels are secured together by the clip strips 9,'the strips being somewhat resilient to press the side flanges together. The flanges 8a at the upper ends of the roof panels abut in a similar manner, the roof panels on both sides of the roof beam being held together by a clip strip 9. To provide a weathertight seal for the clip strips coming together at the corners of the panels, a fourarmedjoint 26, or a three-armed joint 27, is slipped over the clip strips (Fig. 3).

The open ends of the roof frame between the end trusses 21 and the channel beams 20 are covered by roof end panels 28 (Figs. 3, 5 and 8), each panel comprising a vertical portion 28a substantially triangular in shape and formed with a flange 28b at its upper edge similar to. the flanges 8a on the roof panels, and a short angularly disposed portion 28c formed with a flange 28d I at its outer edge similar to the underturned flange 8c of the roof panels. The crease or fold created by the flange 28d is also filled with a sealing compound such as putty before the panels 28 are installed. The roof end panel issecured to the end roof panel by a clip strip 9 holding the flanges 8a and 28b of the roof and roof end panels and by the flange 28d hooked over the upper arm of the channel beam 20, the portion 28c of the roof panel sloping downwardly toward the edge of the roof frame. A small pentagonal panel 29 is welded to the ends of the roof end panels to close the small openings left between the roof end panels above the roof beam (Fig. 5). Small quadrant panels 30 (Fig. 3) are welded to the ends of the roof end panels to cover the rounded corner portions of the roof frame.

The side panels 2, the front panels 3, rear panels 5 and corner panels 7 are formed with locking flanges (not shown) similar to the flanges 8a on the roof panels. The panels 2, 3, 5 and 7 extend up inside the roof frame 19 where they are welded, and are also welded to the outer srtirtieesr the Hoof rame 17, are edges of the front panels 3" and rear panels 5 abutting the pilasters be'ingrwelded thereto., As illustrated in Fig. 9, the panels such as 2 are notched. as at 24 where necessary to avoid beainssuch as 22. The abutting flanges of the panels are weather s'ealed by the clip strips 9 slipped over the flanges in the manner described; j i

.Thefloor' 31. ,of -my ,nov el house comprises a series of panels;32 and33 (,Figs. 9, l1 and 12 the length of the panels runningthe, width of the house, excepting two; end panels 33 (only one being illustrated). Each ofthe, panels 32 comprises downwardly extending flanges 3221 along the sides, one side fl a nge being formed with an outwardly extending leg 32 b, Similar flanges 33a and legs 33b are provided on the end panels 33: 'Ihe floor panels are preferably of the same width, the width of the floor panel's being determined by the width of the si e panels 2 so that a number (if flooi panels may be added or subtracted for each opposite pair of "side panels used in constructing the house. As illustrated in Fig. 9, the flange 32a of one panel abuts the flange of the adjacent panel, the flange resting on the extending leg 32b of the adjacent panel. The legs of alternate floor panels are welded to the top side of floor frame and beam, a fillet weld being made between the edges of alternate adjacent floor panels. Due to the rounded corners of the house, the two end floor panels 33 are provided, the length of these floor panels being less than the floor panels 32 so that when the end floor panels are welded in place a space is left between the ends of the panels and the round corners. Quadrant plates 34 to fill the rounded corners of the house are welded to the end floor panels, to the adjacent floor panels and to the rounded corner panels 7 of the house. The quadrant plates 34 are formed with openings 340, the opening in each plate registering with the sleeves 25 welded to the corresponding corner mounting plates 24 of the floor frame. As herein illustrated in Fig. 11, one of the end floor panels is formed with knockout openings 35 (only one being illustrated), through which the necessary electrical cables, hoses, or the like for connection with the equipment installed in the house 1 may be passed. It will be appreciated that any of the panels forming a part of the house described may be formed with the knockout openings, the location of such knockout openings being determined by the particular need.

Secured to the underside of the truss members 21 and 22, as by welding, and extending around the interior perimeter of the house but spaced from the exterior panels, is a notched bracket supporting member 36 (Figs. 9 and which is substantially L-shaped in cross section. A similar bracket supporting member 37 is welded to the floor panels 32 and 33, the members 36 and 37 being in vertical alignment. Secured to the notched bracket supporting members 36 and 37 as by bolts 38 and nuts 39 are a plurality of upright brackets 40 (only one being illustrated) of the buttonhole type, a metal sleeve 38a being slipped over the bolt and interposed between the brackets and the supporting members to prevent the deformation of the members in tightening the nuts. The brackets 40 may be spaced as desired, any pair of aligned notches provided in the supporting members being selected for securing the vertical brackets.

Should it be desired to provide insulation for the house 1 described, panels 41 of suitable thickness and insulating material may be inserted behind the bracket supporting members 36 and 37. The upper end of a panel 41 is first inserted behind the member 36 and pushed upwardly until the bottom end of the panel clears the member 37, the bottom end then being swung in and permitted to drop behind the member 37.

The access doors 4 in the front panels 3 are suitably hinged as at 43 to the panels, the doors being provided with latch handles 44. The doors 4 are further provided with weather shielded vents 45 suitably screened (not wri' or ventilating thejii'l'terior of the house v'e ilatm g s'hntfers 6 are suitably hinged to the rear panels 5; at46, a; suitable latching means and shutter prop (b :ri'ot' shown)" being provided on the interior side if he shutter for locking and unlocking the shutter and holding the shutter in its raised position when ventilation of the interior of the house is desired. The interior of the muse is further ventilated by lo'uvered panels 47 (Fig'. 5) welded to the ends of the roof beam 12 between th" seam arms l2a, the panels being provided with inly disp'osed screens (not shown).

I e lidiise 1 is secured to'suitable foundations or piers (not shown) by bolting the structure thereto with bolts passing through the corner plates 34, sleeves 25 and mounting plates 24, and through the mounting plates 24b when provided. The provision of the rectangular frame 11 61 the house and the exteriorly placed lifting bars 16s'in'iplify the lifting and moving of the house to and from a given location: With a suitable cable sling, or

the like, hooked over the lifting bars the house is readily hoisted without undue prior preparation as formerly, and without the need for spreader bars. The roof beam 12 supports the entire weight of the house during the hoisting operations, the rigidity of the beam preventing any collapse or crushing of the panels. The house embodying my invention is further characterized by the floor and roof frames forming a part of the framework of the house, the weight of the roof being supported by roof frame while the weight of the floor is supported by the floor frame. The side and end panels of the house are supported by the roof and floor frames instead of supporting the roof as in former construction. The modular construction of the house 1 lends itself'readily to the construction of houses of various lengths thus permitting the stock piling of the various panels and trusses for future assembly into structures of desired sizes.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of a house embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a portable instrument house the combination of a single vertical framework in substantially rectangular form having the structural members in the same plane, said framework including two beams oriented substantially horizontally one above the other and supported by two vertical beams spaced from one another, a roof frame supported by the uppermost of said two horizontal beams, a floor frame supported by the lowermost of said two horizontal beams, said vertical frame member, said roof frame and said floor frame defining a substantially I-shaped form, said roof frame comprising a plurality of truss members affixed to said uppermost horizontal beam, a plurality of roof panels secured to said truss members and to said roof frame, said roof trusses being in spaced apart relation a distance approximately equal to the width of said roof panels, a plurality of floor panels secured to said floor frame, a plurality of siding panels including end panels secured to and supported by said roof and floor frame, the length of said framework being exact multiples of the width of said roof and side panels, the width of said framework being exact multiples of the length of said roof panels and the width of said end panels, vertical brackets afiixed to said roof frame and arranged for supporting instruments thereon, and lifting means on said vertical framework for permitting the entire house to be lifted thereby without stressing said floor, roof and siding panels.

2. In a portable instrument house the combination of a single vertical framework in substantially rectangular form having its structural members in the same plane, said framework including two beams oriented substantwo horizontal beams, said vertical frame member, said 5 roof frame and said floor frame defining a substantially I-shaped form, said roof frame comprising a plurality of truss members afiixed to said uppermost horizontal beam, said truss members comprising triangularly shaped webs, a pair of extending flanges atfixed to the upper and lower surfaces respectively of said uppermost horizontal beam for afiixing each said truss members to said uppermost horizontal beam, the lowermost flange supporting a truss members, said top flange having slots therein receiving the ends of a truss member, vertical brackets afiixed to said roof frame and arranged for supporting instruments thereon, and lifting means on said vertical framework for permitting the entire house to be lifted thereby without stressing said floor, roof and siding panels.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Brantingham May 12, 1857 Campbell June 26, 1906 Fitzgerald Mar. 19, 1907 Fyfe Apr. 30, 1907 Rasmussen Feb. 11, 1913 Fitch Mar. 4, 1924 Romine Aug. 2, 1927' Va ss July 9, 1935 Patterson May 4, 1937 Sieber July 1, 1941 Briggs Jan. 13, 1942 Tei'ch Dec. 16, 1952 South July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 19, 1947 Canada Oct.,9, 1951 

